Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF)

On The War Memorial Trail…… The WWII Soldier From Donaldston Who Died In A Vehicle Accident In The Netherlands

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July 13, 2024.  In the 11 part Atlantic Canada Remembers series that ran in 2021, photos submitted about Atlantic Canadian soldiers buried overseas were featured. Pieter ensured that photos of soldiers who are buried in The Netherlands were forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives. 

In Part 2 of the Atlantic Canada Remembers series, Helen O’Connell submitted a photo of her uncle, Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN.  She wrote that he “….was born in November 12, 1919 to Florence and John Dougan from Donaldston, Prince Edward Island.  He was the 2nd of 12 boys born in that family – no girls.  Frank left school at age of 15 and went to work to help his family.  He worked in Debert, Nova Scotia as a labourer and mechanic.  In 1941, he and 3 of his brothers enlisted….”  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/)

Screenshot 2024-07-03 at 11-24-35 Donaldston · Prince Edward Island C0A 1T0

Donaldston is located in central Prince Edward Island. (Map source: Google maps)

…..Frank enlisted under the NRMA in 1941….

Frank originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on October 2, 1941 and underwent basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC). (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

After completing his basic training, Frank was sent for 62 days of advanced training at No. A19 Canadian Army Service Corps Training Centre (CASCTC) at Camp Borden in Borden, Ontario.  

From there, he was transferred to the 6th Division Ammunition Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) in Valcartier, Quebec on April 7, 1942.

Frank would remain with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army.  Their role was to provide support to Canadian soldiers wherever they went, moving supplies from the rear areas to the front-lines. They delivered all rations, ammunition, petroleum products, and all other essentials, using vehicles ranging from three- to ten-ton trucks, and forty-ton tank transporters. (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Army_Service_Corps)

….Frank enlisted for active service…..

Francis Ivan Dougan

Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan Dougan. (Photo courtesy of Helen O’Connell)

On June 1, 1942, Frank transferred from the non-active militia to active service in the Canadian Army, remaining with the 6th Division Ammunition Company in Valcartier.   

On July 7, 1942, Frank was sent to the Canadian Army Trades School in Hamilton, Ontario for a Motor Mechanics Course, which lasted 6 months. On January 20, 1943, Frank was attached to the Headquarters of the 6th Division Ammunition Company at Hastings Military Park in Vancouver, British Columbia.

On March 9, 1943, he was sent to the Headquarters of the 6th Division Company in Victoria, British Columbia.  Then, on September 2, 1943, he was transferred to the 28th Transport Company in Duncan, British Columbia, but sent on assignment with the Royal Rifles of Canada to Wainwright, Alberta, where he remained until October 19, 1943, when he returned to Duncan. 

Frank next was transferred to No. XI District Depot in Vancouver, British Columbia on February 4, 1944 for a short period before being sent, on February 16, 1944, to No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, in preparation for overseas service. 

….Frank left Canada for overseas service….

On April 11, 1944, Frank left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on April 19, 1944, where he was assigned to the Canadian Army Service Corps Reinforcement Unit (CASCRU).

Frank was transferred to the 12th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), part of the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB) on May 1, 1944, qualifying as a Driver i/c on May 8, 1944.  (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.) 

Helen had written that while overseas Frank “… worked as a driver in the war, mainly in the UK….”  This turned out to be incorrect, as Frank was in the United Kingdom for only a few short months – until July 25, 1944, when he, and the 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB), arrived in France as part of the 21st Army Group.  He was with the Brigade until after WWII officially ended.

….Frank remained in Europe after the war ended….

On July 6, 1945, as a driver, Frank was assigned to the 4th Armoured Division Transport Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), joining them in Almelo, The Netherlands.  He remained with the 4th Armoured Division until November 10, 1945, when he was reassigned to the 2/9 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB).

On April 7, 1946, Frank was transferred to the 48th Canadian General Transport Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) in Germany. 

….Frank lost his life in a vehicle accident….

Helen wrote that “….after the war Frank decided to work in peacekeeping as a Canadian soldier in Oldenburg, Germany.  On May 16, 1946, he was involved in road accident and was killed.  He was buried in Holland and was awarded the France and Germany Star 1939-1945….”

According to his service file, Frank died in a hospital in Nijmegen following a road accident during very bad weather in Nijmegen, while he was on his way from Grave, The Netherlands to Oldenburg, Germany. Mechanical failure in the steering mechanism led to the accident.  Frank was a passenger in the rear of the vehicle along with 2 others, plus the driver. 

There were two fatalities: Frank Dougan and another soldier who was also in the rear, Charles Ernest Edwin CRIDLAND, who had been born in England, but was from Vancouver, British Columbia.

….Frank is buried in Holten….

2227155_1 Grave of Frank Ivan Dougan CVWM

Grave of Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan Dougan in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Frank was initially buried in the Canadian Cemetery in Groesbeek, near Nijmegen, before being reburied, on July 16 1946, in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Helen was able to visit The Netherlands and the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  “…My husband and I were very fortunate to visit his grave in 2016.  I was so proud and honoured to be there.  I will not forget.  This graveyard seemed almost like a sacred place for these solders who gave their life for us and since my visit I really appreciate that….”

In 1948, Frank’s grave was adopted by a family from Delden – jeweller Jan A. Zengerink and his wife Ria.  An English translation of the letter that they wrote to Frank’s family informing them of the grave adoption was forwarded to Frank’s mother by the Department of Defence.

Thank you to Helen O’Connell for submitting a photo and information on her uncle. Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…..The Atlantic Canada Remembers series….

Missed the Atlantic Canada Remembers series? See:

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If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/ 

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier Stanley Owen Jones

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September 5, 2022. Pieter continues to diligently work his way through photo wish lists from Dutch researchers at the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.  Two names on the lists from the cemetery in Holten were members of First Nations: William ‘Willie’ DANIELS, a Cree Nation member from Saskatchewan, and Stanley Owen JONES, a Haida Nation member of the Massett Band in British Columbia.

After an interview on APTN with Brett Forester, families of both soldiers provided photos.  (To read the article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)  Willie Daniels was featured in a posting last year.

This posting is about Stanley Owen JONES, who was born September 29, 1924 in Massett, British Columbia, the son of David and Elizabeth Jones.

….A family member from Alaska gets in contact….

It took several months, but one day Michelle Eakman, granddaughter of Stanley’s youngest sister, contacted Pieter from her home in Alaska. “…Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.  My grandmother Marina was the last living sibling and she passed away on April 6, 2019...”  She included a photo, explaining that “…this picture of the picture is all I’ve had…”

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Stanley Owen Jones. (Photo submitted by Michelle Eakman.  Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

….Stanley enlisted in 1944….

Before enlisting at the No. 11 Recruiting Detachment in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 10, 1944, Stanley was employed as a fisherman for 4 years around the Queen Charlotte Islands (now called Haida Gwaii) with Nelson Brothers of Vancouver.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haida_Gwaii)

After his father had died in 1938, Stanley cut short his schooling in order to work.  He’d already lost one brother and five sisters during the 1930s. His mother and five siblings remained – one brother in a sanatorium due to tuberculosis, and four sisters.

An interviewer noted in his Personnel Selection Record that Stanley used to play football, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball.  He enjoyed reading westerns and could play the piano.

He was described as having a “…quiet nature, man of few words. Has self-confidence…”  He was recommended for an infantry unit since he told the interviewer that he “.…has done a lot of hunting.…”

Stanley was sent for basic training to the Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Prince Albert Saskatchewan.  Once that was completed, he was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Shilo, Manitoba on May 28, 1944.

On October 13, 1944 he was transferred to the No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia in preparation for overseas service.

….Stanley left Canada on Christmas Eve 1944….

On December 24, 1944, Stanley left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on December 31, 1944. Then, on February 12, 1945 he was sent to northwest Europe and transferred to the Regina Rifle Regiment for a few weeks.

On March 13, 1945 he was transferred to the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) which was stationed in Kleve, Germany, just across the border from The Netherlands.

….Stanley was wounded during the liberation of Wagenborgen….

finalphasecanscottish

Stanley Owen Jones was injured during the liberation of Wagenborgen.  (Map courtesy of http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

In April 1945, the Regiment travelled back and forth between The Netherlands and Germany, encountering Germany opposition but pushing through successfully.  On April 21, 1945, the Battle of Delfzijl Pocket began in a fight to liberate the Dutch village of Wagenborgen, south of Delfzijl, and the surrounding area. German resistance was heavy, resulting in Canadian Scottish casualties of 23 killed and 41 wounded before Wagenborgen was liberated on April 24. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/wagenborgen.htm)

Stanley was wounded in the early morning of April 24 in a blast that ruptured his right ear drum, resulting in ‘nerve deafness’.  Not only was his hearing impaired, but his balance would have been as well.

 ….Stanley drowned in an accident….

Stanley returned to the Canadian Scottish Regiment on May 24, 1945.  On September 8, 1945, while the Regiment was part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) in Germany, Stanley was on a duty run in a carrier that was carrying rations from the Supply Company to the detachment at Sengwarden Radio Station.  Sengwarden is a village north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

The driver, Pte Randle, testified that a track came off the carrier, causing it to lurch to the right and to overturn in a ditch.  Stanley and Pte Jaschinsky were the other occupants in the vehicle when it overturned.

Randle testified in a Court Of Inquiry that after freeing himself he called out to the other two men.  “…Pte Jaschinsky answered and told me he was all right but that Jones must be under the carrier. He had been riding in the front as my co-driver, so I felt around to see if I could locate him.  I felt his body under water and tried to lift him to my side but couldn’t budge him…”

A vehicle from the Régiment de la Chaudière rescued Randle and Jaschinsky and pulled the carrier off Stanley, who had been pinned under the carrier, and tried unsuccessfully to revive him through artificial respiration.

In Jaschinsky’s testimony in the Court Of Inquiry, he explained that he was a cook at the Supply Company and had received a pass to travel to Sengwarden in order to see how the detachment was managing with rations.  “….We were proceeding down the Sengwarden Wilhelmshaven highway at approximately 1620 hours when I heard a strange noise and looked around and saw a carrier track lying on the road…. I saw we were heading toward a tree.  Just before colliding with the tree the remaining track dropped in a slit trench throwing the carrier at right angles. In the same motion it turned upside down….”

The Court Of Inquiry ruled that Stanley’s death was due to accidental drowning.  The Jones family had suffered another loss in their family.

 ….Stanley was buried in The Netherlands….

Stanley was initially buried in Osterscheps, Germany and later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

2227447_t1 Jones

Stanley Owen Jones in buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Michelle Eakman for providing a photo.  If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.